Todd Archer
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Cowboys proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones by no means thought his crew can be on this place after 9 video games, simply 3-5-1 after Monday's 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, however he was one thing of a realist after the sport.
“We have gained three ballgames and right here we're with this juncture,” Jones mentioned. “So, I do know easy methods to add. I imply, I am not attempting to be trite, however I can add it up and take a look at the numbers of video games we have left and what potential combos of information might get you within the playoffs. We've got all that down actual good.”
The Cowboys are in second place within the NFC East, 3½ video games behind the Philadelphia Eagles. They're at the moment eleventh within the convention standings, behind two groups that already beat Dallas, the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers, whereas edging the Cardinals solely due to their Week 4 tie towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
After the Cowboys play the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 17, following their bye week, the following 5 opponents — Eagles, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Chargers — are a mixed 26-16.
The video games towards the Eagles, Chiefs and Lions are available in a 12-day span.
“Each sport is a must-win going ahead,” quarterback Dak Prescott unhappy. “You say that, and you are feeling that within the NFL and you must really feel that. However while you put your self ready or behind like we've, it is much more so that is the case. … Having all these video games to play, you possibly can catch a sizzling streak and be proper within the combine. That is nice. However you bought to get a streak going and if you aren't getting a streak going, you are simply placing your self an increasing number of behind the 8-ball, so it is now or by no means.”
Jones' first order of enterprise is Tuesday's commerce deadline. Earlier Monday, he mentioned on Stephen A. Smith's present on Sirius XM that the Cowboys had a commerce in place. After the Cardinals' loss, Jones mentioned there was a commerce he might make, which is a slight distinction.
“Whenever you've gained solely three video games at this juncture, you then acknowledge you've got obtained quite a lot of floor to make up,” Jones mentioned. “And I am very conscious of that. And, sure, I might agree with you. It's an uphill battle. Can we've the sorts of issues we had been relying on? I used to be definitely hoping we might have a pair extra wins on the win column earlier than we began profiting from any alternatives to vary the roster. And in order that's nonetheless there into account.”
The most important space of concern is a protection that has been crushed up from the beginning of the season. The Cowboys have wants at defensive position, linebacker and the secondary to think about and have had discussions with a number of groups about gamers at totally different positions.
“There's one (commerce) that I can do. With out query, there may be one I can do. There's not one (accomplished), however there may be one which I can do,” Jones mentioned. “And I am leaning towards doing it.”
The deal won't be on the magnitude of the 2018 commerce with the Raiders for broad receiver Amari Cooper that flipped the season within the Cowboys favor.
“I would not need to get into it. It is simply the character of all people concerned within the commerce,” Jones mentioned. “However something is critical if it is any individual that is going to be energetic within the video games, on the sphere, that kind of factor. So I do not need to diminish the commerce. However we definitely, for what a participant was going to deliver to the desk, for no matter occurred tonight, we'd like that participant to deliver that to the desk, it doesn't matter what occurred tonight. However does it make sense?”
As Jones wrestles with the ultimate steps of creating that commerce – or a number of trades — coach Brian Schottenheimer wrestles with easy methods to put every part collectively. And it goes past the scuffling protection. Within the final two video games, the primary crew offense, has averaged 13.5 factors within the final two video games. Dak Prescott was sacked 5 occasions by the Cardinals, and the Cowboys turned the ball over thrice.
“We obtained quite a lot of work to do,” Schottenheimer mentioned. “I challenged the blokes. We have got to seek out options. We sit the place we sit.”
With eight video games to play, the Cowboys' season is on the road and a commerce won't be sufficient to repair every part.
“You have obtained quite a lot of floor to make up. I will grant anyone that,” Jones mentioned. “Can we get there with higher play, much less errors? Can we get there with that? Are we going to have some personnel? We will have the chance to have some totally different personnel than the primary a part of this season, both shopping for by way of a commerce or gamers that we have had coming (again from harm). You guys have been listening to about that and studying about that right here for weeks and weeks and weeks.
“The outdated Parcells quote, ‘You might be what you might be,' proper at present. We have got to check out it, and you will not be dissatisfied that I did not get carried away, get illogical, and do one thing that was all betting on us profitable the Tremendous Bowl. I do not assume you may be dissatisfied.”
